File cover support devices as used in filing systems



W. N. JONES July 7, I959 FILE COVER SUPPORT DEVICES AS USED IN FILING SYSTEMS Filed July 50, 1957 INVENTOR. WILLIAM N. JONES WM, YLJZJJ United States Patent SUPPORT DEVICES AS USED IN FILING SYSTEMS William Norman Jones, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa Application July 30, 1957, Serial No. 675,067

1 Claim. (Cl. 129--16.7)

FILE COVER This invention relates to filing systems and more particularly to an improved form of support for vertically suspending cardboard or like material folders in filing cabinets, drawers and the like and which folders are adapted to retain files, covers, letters, documents and the like in a readily accessible manner.

The supports for suspending such folders in filing cabinets or the like are of a kind carried by their end regions Whereas the intermediate regions are fitted along the normally horizontally disposed edges of the folders. Accordingly, such supports are longer than the folders held between them and project beyond both'ends of the folders for engaging suitable rails or the like in the filing cabinets, drawers, trays or the like.

In known forms of supports for the said purpose; one support is required for each folder edge and all the folders are thus kept apart from the others. In a further known form a support is adapted to receive and retain the free edges of adjacent folders thereby forming an extendible group of folders of substantially continuous V- or W-formation, when a plurality of folders is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a support capable of easy and firm connection to and detachable from adjacent folders and, if and when required, may support index holders of simple and replaceable form for purposes of name, subject matter or other classification purposes.

According to this invention, a folder support for a filing system comprises a bar-like member providing along its lower side two spaced longitudinal and parallel grooves opening to said lower side and each groove presenting a longitudinal substantially horizontal flange for supporting a doubled-over free marginal edge flap on a horizontal free end of a folder.

Preferably, the said bar-like support is provided along its top side with a single longitudinal groove adapted to receive and frictionally hold the mounting part of an index holder. Said single longitudinal groove in the top of the bar-like support is provided in that part of the support forming a vertical longitudinal partition between the two spaced grooves which open to the lower side of the said support.

More particularly, the said support is of substantially M-forrn in cross-section with the free bottom edges of two outer downwardly directed limbs flanged inwardly to form anchoring ledges for the said doubled over free marginal flaps of the folders. The central groove in the top of the support is arranged to receive a downwardly extending mounting part of the index holder, either slidably from an end or by way of a press-in fit, at any position along its length.

The index holder presents a title or index card or like classifying sign holding part and the said downwardly extending mounting part for engaging in the single groove in the top side of the support by a strong frictional grip or a wedging action. Said sign holding part of the holder is arranged to be obliquely disposed when in its operative position and is adapted to receive a strip of transparent covering material which should preferably have magnifying properties.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood and carried into practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings on which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing three bar-like supports according to this invention from which folders are suspended in openable fashion;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse cross-section of a bar-like support according to this invention, showing the coacting regions of adjacent folders when in position; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing in addition an index or like sign mounting device according to this invention as applied to a bar-like support.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes the bar-like support according to this invention presenting two parallel spaced longitudinal grooves 2 which are open in respect of the bottom and a single central groove 3 opening upwardly. Each support 1 is constructed from a strip of sheet metal 4 which is bent longitudinally to present the support with a substantially M-form cross-sectional shape, thus forming four closely spaced substantially parallel walls 5, 6, 7 and 8. The grooves 2 are formed by the walls 5, 6 and 7, 8 while the central groove 3 is formed between the walls 6 and 7.

The free longitudinal marginal edge regions of the strip 4, or more particularly of the downwardly directed ends of the walls 5 and 8, are bent inwardly to form flanges 9 of which the extreme free edges 10 terminate substantially in line, but in spaced relationship below, the spaced walls 6 and 7. Said flanges 9 form ledges on which the bent-over marginal flaps 11 in the folders 12 are supported and prevented from withdrawal in a downward direction when said supports 1 are horizontally mounted on supporting members 13 of the filing cabinet drawer or the like.

The extreme end regions of the supports, i.e. the regions extending beyond the vertical ends of the covers 12, are provided with notches 14 in the lower regions for engaging on the supporting members 13 so that said supports 1 may be slid along the supporting members 13 but are incapable of excessive axial movement.

In one method of attaching the free edge of a folder 12 to a support 1, the marginal free edge regions of each folder side are firstly doubled over in a direction inwardly of the folder to form the flaps 11. With a flap 11 held substantially flat against the respective inner face of the folder, the said free edge region is slid endwise into one of the lower side grooves 4 so that the edge of the flap 11 will engage the aforementioned anchorage ledge forming flange 9 thereby preventing withdrawal of the folder in a direction at right angles to said support 1. The adjacent folder 12 is fitted in a similar way into the second lower side groove of the support 1 whereby adjacent folder edges are securely held together.

The index or like sign holder 15 provides a title, index card or like classifying sign holding part 16 and a downwardly directed, and preferably slightly converging, mounting part or tail piece 17 which is adapted to effect a strong frictional gripping or wedging action against the inwardly directed faces of walls 6 and 7 forming the centre groove 3 of the support 1. The part 16 is preferably obliquely disposed and is flanged over Patented July 7, 1959 forwardly along its outer edge as at 18 so as to receive the sign or title card"19 or the like securely betweensaid outer flange and an upper free edge region 20 of the mounting, part 17..which is conveniently formed by doubling over ofthe sheet material=piece from which the holder '15 is manufactured and'which free edge region, which is also bent over upon itself, projects beyond-the lower region of the .oblique title card'holding part 16.

The index holder 15 is preferably adaptedto receive a strip of magnifying material 21' over the sign 'or title card 19for easyidentiflcation purposes. Saidmagnifying strip 21 is conveniently clipped into position or may be arranged to be slid in from either end of the holder 15.. Such magnifying strip 21 preferably comprises a bar of. glass or clear plastic material of segmental crosssectional' shape.-

' The index holder may be clipped in and out of the groove 3 and spaced projections 01' like formations or deformations may be provided on opposite sides of the groove 3 along its upper edges for retention of the index holder 15 at specific positions. This will ensure that the index, holder 15 cannot slide along the groove and: provideslfor the index holder in adjacent supports to be positioned instaggeredrelationship with respect to one another to facilitate the reading ofthe titles and the like.

Alternatively, the indexholder 15 may be slidably arranged in the groove 3. while other suitable means may be provided for locking it in any. position therein.

I, claim:

A filing device comprising supporting rails, a plurality of suspension-bars supported on said rails, each bar comprising four vertically positioned spaced parallel Walls, the two inner walls having a vertical dimension less than the vertical dimension of the outer wall, top portions joining the tops-oftheouter walls to the tops of the inner: walls: to: define two downwardly opening grooves, and a bottomportion joining the bottoms of the inner walls to each. other to define an upwardly opening groove between the inner" walls, a flange onthe lower edge of each outer wall, said flange projecting inwardly towardsdhe; opposite outer. wall, the inner edges of the flanges being substantially vertically below the, inner walls and spaced downwardly therefrom and" being spaced from each other, and a plurality of filing pocket forming folders each-havingthe upper. edges folded over in flaps, the flaps being in the downwardly opening groovesof:the barswith-theiree edgesof the .flaps resting on: said-fla ges.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATESv PATENTS 1,329,569 Yaxley Feb. 3, 1920 2;l,74;20'1 Chauvini Sept. 26, 1939 2,420,021 Straubel et al. May 6, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 613,081 Great. Britain Nov. 22, 1948 1 ,011,728 France Apr. 9, 1952 726,763 .Great Britain. Mar. 23, 1955 

